Friday, October 24, 2008

Comedian Jerry Lewis has been in boiling hot water before. Insulting gays, women and disability rights advocates with his provocative comedy routine.

"At a press conference in Sydney today 83 year old comedian Jerry Lewis decided to let fly with the word ‘fag’. And what’s even more shocking, a major Australian news outlet didn’t even feel the need to edit the word out before televising the interview.

While speaking with a journalist from Channel Ten News, Lewis was asked “What do you think of cricket?” His response was, “Oh cricket is a fag’s game!” Lewis then proceeded to flounce about, using camp, effeminate gestures, pretending to hold a bat with a limp wrist, squealing in a high pitched voice “Ah! The ball is coming towards me!” (Same-Same)

He has apologized in the past for using the homophobic slur, maybe its time for him to apologize again and put an end to his homophobic stand up routine?

16 comments:

1. "And what’s even more shocking, a major Australian news outlet didn’t even feel the need to edit the word out before televising the interview."... This kind of American urges for censorship are a sad but real indication of the anemic society with you have created for yourself, and which will bring it to its final failure. Real democracy leaves no room for censorship, be that from the right or the left. It's even scarier when a gay outlet like this actually advocates it, instead of championing a truly liberal society, the only place in which we can actually thrive.

2. I didn't see the video, but I cannot help to ask if it was truly and objectively offensive. Recently I read statements of two gay organizations, one in New York and the other one in West Hollywood, demanding a boycott (another American favorite activity) against "Little Britain", accusing it of being insulting. I, like many other gay men and women, do not find it offensive but funny and provocative. Outrageous? Yes, but if outrage would be the norm to kill art, cabaret and drags shows would've been extinct... of wait... yes, where are they?

Grow a spine, loosen up, allow yourselves to laugh, and go after the real problems, like openly homophobic Republicans and closeted homophobic Democrats. Our true friends are few: Kennedy and a couple more. The Obamas, Clintons, and others should be made the aim of your anger, not an old comedian whose time is up.

Anon -the portion about censorship is in the article I quoted. I am all for free speech and not in favor of censoring anyone. I believe the media should report words like "faggot" if used in a story in proper context of quoting someone offensive.

That being said Jerry Lewis is a brand, if he wants go around spewing hateful words he has every right to. But being that this is a free society I have a right to tell him I am offended and ask for his apology or urge people not to listen to him. If people want to ask him to apologize they can with the email above. He has apologized in the past. The rest is up to him.

Get over it! I'm gay and I couldn't give a toss! He's a funny man, and he's aging, leave him alone, and find some other GLBT orientated thing to get ones knickers in a knot over for god sakes... I'm sick of hearing about all of the "poor us crap on the scene...." We belong to a group of people called "Humans".. this group has a whole larger range of problems to be addressed on this planet than petty name calling.

Wow, just cos someone's gay and doesn't find it funny, other gay people shouldn't find it offensive?

I love how the people who disagree are all anonymous too - you're probably just someone trolling, looking for something to start.

What Jerry Lewis said was homophobic and sexist, actually. In case you didn't know, this is where the problem starts - from the little things - words like "fag" and the such. We activists can multi-task too - don't worry, we find the time to help the starving children in Africa as well.

And really, censorship? I love free speech, but since we have such a privilege, we also have a duty to not screw up that privilege either - it's called respecting people.

The fact that a website called "Queers United" is bitching about an 82 year old man using the word fag seems a little ironic to me. Sort of like an african american calling his friend the "N" word and then becoming offended when a "Cracker" uses the same word. As a White Straight Male I feel as though I am being backed into a corner to be stoned to death.

I know I'm feeding the troll and all but forgive me and let me say one piece then I'll carry on with my life...

Aww, poor straight white guy getting backed in a corner and stoned to death (what?). I'm sorry you don't get to use the "n" word, life is so unfair. You must be so confused!

The difference between a gay person using "queer" and a black saying "nigga" is nigga is just offensive no matter who says it. Queer as I see it is more of a positive term. As for complaining about Lewis and his use of the word "fag", I guess we should just let him slide because a few people don't find it offensive or "oh he's just being funny!"

I get offended when anyone says "fag" as a slur against gays. I don't know why Jerry Lewis gets to be the exception?

I'm actually writing a review, to put on my blog next week, about queer sensibility in Jerry Lewis' movies. I'm sure there's nothing offensive in Lewis'(bad) jokes. If you attentively look to his body of work, you will see it contains many courageous critics against heterocentism and the "straight way of live". Don't be too ticklish, please, my friends...

He is an old man from a different time who still, regardless of his outdated and uncomfortable views on homosexuality, has been a staunch providor and promotor for childrens health.We all have that old ass uncle who thinks this way and when we sit at the thanksgiving table, ;laugh at him.Grow up, get tough and get over it.

Anybody who is offended by a word obviously has a complex, regardless of what group you belong to. New words have been used to not offend certain groups and after some time passes then that new word becomes offensive as well. If you don't like what people call you, then change what you are or get over it. If you're a homosexual, don't get mad if someone calls you a homo. If you're overweight, don't get mad because someone calls you fat. Accept who you are and get on with your life. Remember being offended by a word is a copmplex that only you can deal with. Grow up you faggots.

manufactured outrage!!!I am offended that the Candian Govt. would have such a commission. It sounds much just like Stalin's Truth Commissions, which were ways to purge those he saw as undesirable. Free speech is dead in Canada. . . uhhh . . unless you are personally attacking a White Christiam male, then it's a free for all.